News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-09-01
The Old Vermont Brigade,
BY Fl. H. THOMAS,

bA H. Ii. IttOMAS.
No doubt other troops from the Green Mountain
State
Were equally as true and as brave,
But am not here their exploits to relate,
My theme is the Old Brigade,
Let poets sing and sages tell
OF the heroes of every age,
But there never was any that could excel
Those that fought in the Old Brigade.
Valiant men were they, as eyer drew sword,
Courageous, bold and brave,
And fearlessly they fought the rebel horde,
These men of the Old Brigade.
The stubborn, grand Old Second Vermont
Of shot and shell were not afraid. ~
Like heroeS of story those men fought and bled,
They were part of the Old Brigade.
The Third Vermont were valiant men,
No cOWardice they ever displayed
Neither shot nor shell could frighten them,
They were part of the Old Brigade.
The Fourth Vermont were courageous boys
And they never were diSmayed
Amid the tierceSt battles noise and din,
They were part of the Old Brigade.
The Fifth Vermont were men of grit,
rN With the johnny Rebs sad havoc they made;
They made them to = Get up and get"
Did those boys of the Old Brigade,
The Sixth Vermont were true as steel,
They never lay back in the shade;
Like heroes they fought they would never yield,
They were part of the Old Brigade.
These FIVE regiments, sons of Vermont.
Their flag did alwayS-raFve
In the fteTcest of the fight, and valiantly they
fought,
They Composed the Old Brigade
And from the first battle until the last,
You'll find recorded ON histoFy's page,
How grandly those men performed every task
Allotted to the Old Brigade,
Down on the peninsula, under Mcclellan,
Through mud knee deep they did wade,
Those boys Of the Old Brigade.
All through the State of Virginia,
Over hill, through forest and glade.
Leading the sixth corps on the long, hard
marches,
Were the boys of the Old Brigade.
Stealing all the poultry they could find,
Every hen-roOst they would raid,
For chicken-pie was considered none too good
For the boys of the Old Brigade
No fat pOrker would the boys ever miss
Many iuckless pig they waylaid,
For roast fresh pork was faYOrite dish
With the boys of the Old Brigade,
Potatoes, vegetables. all kinds of fruit;
No attention was paid
TO the ownership OF such produce;
Twas considered free plumber with the bows of
the Old Brigade.
But when the boom of the cannon was heard
And the boys in line of battle were arrayed
None were quicker or more willing to go in at
the word
Than the boys of the Old Brigade.
But ali! comrades many of those brave men fell
Nobly fighting the Union to save;
What they suffered and endured no living man
can tell
Unless he served in the Old Brigade.
Others died of sickness, caused by exposure,
And in the cold Virginia clay were laid
1t made the boys feel sad and sober
When cOmrade died in the Old Brigade,
Many were wounded by shot and shell
And crippleS for life were made
You may believe the story that those men tell
For they were truthful men in the Old Brigade
Then comrades let us cherish the memory of
those brave men
That fell nobly fighting the Union to save
For the time will soon come when none will be
left
OF those heroes of the Old Brigade.
The most of them have already gone
And the debt of nature they have paid;
Very few remain that once belonged
To the Old Vermont Brigade.
Yes, comrades, We'll be generous in all our acts
And never ask for comfort or aid
From cOpper-head Democrats, for they are not
friends
To the boys of the Old Brigade.
Well be true to the principles for which we
fought
But beware of Growers and knaves
lnthe ranks with such men Wen never be caught,
We men of the Old Brigade.
Yes, comrades, let us be generous and kind.
Ever ready and willing to aid
needy cOmrade at any time
Ye men of the Old Brigade.
And when at the great Roll Call we meet.
Be it in Heaven or HadGS,
May we be permitted to greet every one
That served in the Old Brigade.